Sidepocket mandrel

ABSTRACT

A mandrel for use in a well tubing in which the mandrel body has an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and a sidepocket offset from the open bore for receiving flow control devices, having a housing for protecting tools in the pocket, having a deflecting guide surface for preventing tools moving in the bore from catching in the mandrel, and being of an extent for receiving and guiding flow control devices into the sidepocket, being of a size to admit and guide only devices seatable in the pocket, and preventing the entrance of open bore tools into the pocket housing. A plurality of identical mandrels with orienting means in the open bore for aligning a flow control device into the housing anpocket with the guide receiving and guiding the flow control device toward and into the pocket.

United States Patent 1191 Terra] 1 June 26, 1973 SIDEPOCKET MANDREL Prima Examiner-James A. Le ink 7 l B T PP 5] mentor en D Houston Tex Attorney-James F. Weiler,W1ll1am A. Stout et al. [73] Assignee: Cameo, Incorporated, Houston, Tex. 22 Filed: 1m. 15, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT A mandrel for use in a well tubing in which the mandrel [21] Appl' 3 body has an'open bore foralignment with the well tub- R l t d Appucafion'pam ing and a sidepocket offset from the open bore for re- [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 180,315, Sept. 14, f f having a 1971, and a continuation-in-partof Ser. No. 154,943, tectmg tools m the pocket havmg a deflectmg guide J 21, 1971. surface for preventing tools moving in the bore from 1 catching in the mandrel, and being of an extent form- 52 us. c1. 166/117.s eeivins and guiding flew control devices into the side- 51 161. c1 E2111 7/06 pocket, being of a size to admit and guide y devices 58 Field 61 Search 166/1 17.5 seateble in the p and preventing the entrance of open bore tools into the pocket housing. A plurality of 5 References (jig d identical mandrels with orienting means in the open UNITED STATES PATENTS bore for aligning a flow control device into the housing anpocket with the guide receiving and guiding theflow 5 32 28; 23;: 33:2

control device toward and into the pocket. 2.9591227 11/1960 Canalizo 166/1175 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 49s *m- 40' 46 L (/0 /s T 7 any.

PAlliNlinJunzslsza 3.741.299

BY J

ATTOR/VV J PAIENTEBJUII 26 I975 sum 3 or 3 SIDEPOCKET MANDREL CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a contination in part to my patent application entitled Sidepocket Mandrel, Ser. No. 180,315, filed Sept. 14, 1971 which was copending with and was a continuation in part of patent application entitled Tool Deflecting'Mandrel, Ser. No.

154,943, filed June 21, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, a mandrel for use in a well tubing which has an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and an offset or sidepocket for receiving flow control devices such as valves is old as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,824,525 and 3,268,006. The open bore in the mandrel allows well tools to pass through the well tubing and the mandrel to perform normal well operations below the mandrel even while other operations are being performed by the flow control devices positioned in the sidepocket. However, tools passing through the open bore, for example only, such as on wirelines or pumped hydraulically, may become caught on movement through the mandrel on the sidepocket or on the devices positioned in the sidepocket which may lead to damage of the open bore tools and/or the sidepocket devices and cause the open bore tools to hang in the mandrel. This undesired possibility is aggravated in a slanted well in which the sidepocket is positioned on the low side of the tubing or mandrel. v

The present invention is directed to the provision of a deflective guide in the mandrel and in a plurality of identical mandrels for protecting devices in the offset pocket, and for preventing tools moving in the open bores of the mandrels from catching and hanging in the mandrels, and being of a sufficient length to receive oriented flow controldevices and guide them into the pockets of the desired mandrel.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a tool deflecting mandrel having a guide means aligned with the offset pocket for protecting flow control devices positioned in the pocket, and preventing tools moving in the well tubing and open bore of the mandrel'from catching in the mandrel as they are being moved therethrough, and guiding devices into the sidepocket.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a deflector housing aligned with the offset or sidepocket and extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance that any'device seated in the offset pocket extends upwardly, thereby preventing any device in the offset pocket from engaging a tool moving through the open bore of the mandrel.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of the top of the deflector guide housing extending from the open bore upwardly and outwardly to the inside wall of the mandrel to present a deflecting surface which prevents tools moving in the open bore from catching on the housing or any device seated in the valve pocket.

Yet a still further object of the present invention is the provision of a deflector guide housing above an offset pocket in a mandrel with the housing having an interior and being open adjacent the open bore of the mandrel but of a size to admit only flow control devices into the pocket and preventing the entrance of open bore tools into the interior of the pocket housing.

Yet a still further object of this invention is the provision of a plurality of identical mandrels each having an orientating sleeve in the open bore of the mandrel above the sidepocket for selectively actuating a flow control "device and a deflector guide housing being of sufficient length above the pocket to receive a flow control device when the device is selectively orientated over the desired pocket and thereafter guiding the flow device toward and into the pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the deflector housing of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating another form of the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional viewtaken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating a flow control device being guided into the embodiment of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates one of a plurality of identical vertically spaced mandrels for connection in a well tubing 12, only one of which is shown for convenience, and suitably con- 18, for example only a valve pulling tool, was lowered through the well tubing 12, for example only such as on a wireline 19, the tool 18 may come in contact with the valve 22 damaging either the valve 22 or the tool 18. In addition, the tool 18 could catch on the valve 22 or on the sidepocket 20, particularly in the case where the well tubing 12 was slanted and the sidepocket 20 was positioned on the low side of mandrel 10. The present invention, as best seen in FIGS. 1-5, provides a deflective guide means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 26, for protecting flow control devices in the offset pocket 20 from damage by tools such as 18 moving in the open bore 16, prevents the tools 18 moving in the open bore 16 from catching on the flow control devices 22 or on the offset pocket 20 as they are moved through the mandrel 10, and guides the oriented and released flow control devices toward the sidepocket 20. The deflective guide means 26 is positioned in the mandrel and its axis is aligned with the axis of the offset L pocket 20, andas best seen in FIG. 1, extends upwardly a distance greater than the distance that any device 22 seated in the offset pocket extends upwardly-thereby isolating any device 22 seatedin the pocket 20 from any tool 18 moving through the open bore 16. Thus the,

to receive any sidepocket device 22, but is generally smaller than the tools 18. For convenienceiof manufac ture, the deflective guide means 26 may be an insert welds 28, as best seen in FIG. 2, at a position above a valve latching shoulder 30.

The top 32 of the guiderneans 26 may extend from the open bore 16 in the mandrel upwardly and radially outward from the open borel6 entirely to the inside 31 of the wall of the mandrel 10, for example on an upwardly tapering angle of 30 degrees from the vertical, to present an upwardly deflecting surface 32. The surface 32 deflects tools' 18 which move downwardly in the well tubing 12 and open bore 16 away from the valve pocket 20 and into the open bore 18 and prevents the tools 18 from making any damaging contact with a sidepocket device 22 or from catching on the device 22 or on the valve pocket 20. The guide means 26 shown in FIGS. 1-5 may be generally U-shaped in cross section and may have an opening 34 adjacent the open tioned in the open bore 16 and above the sidepocket 20. The sleeve 46 includes an upwardly directed helical I Either the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5.or 61-7 may be provided, as shown with an orientating sleeve 46 posisurface 48 andlongitudinal slot49 for rotational orientating a kickover tool for properly aligning a flow control device forinsertion into one of the sidepockets r in any selected mandrel 10. Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the installation of a flow control device 22 into the sidepocket 20 by means of a kickover tool 50, such as one more fully describedin copending patent application Ser. No.95,408, filed Dec; 4, 1970 entitled Api h may be l d i place i h mandrel by j paratus for Installing and Removing Flow Valves, is

best seen. Thus, when the kickover tool is raised in the bore 16, the key 52 will contact the surface 48 and ori- I cut the attachedflow control device 22 over the pocket 20 in the desired mandrel in the tubing 12. It is to be noted that the deflector guide means 26 acts to laterally retain and guide the flow control device 22 when the pocket 20. Of course, the deflector 26 should extend a bore 16 but of a size for admitting only devices 22 I.

sufficient distance above the sidepocket 20 so as to receive and guide the flow control device 22 when it-is orientedplt is to be notedthat a plurality of identical mandrels 10 may be used in the tubing 12 allowing all of the mandrels to be similarly manufactured and requiring only a minimum of stocking requirements at the place of use as compared to those devices in which require variations in structure to obtain selective'installation and removal of flow control devicesin a particular installed and removedfrom the offset pocket20 of any desired mandrel. And when it is desired to move other ing through the open bore 16 is prevented'from entrance therein or contact with the sidepocket device is shown which includes side guide rails 40, which for example only may beangle shaped in'cross section, en-

closing the interior 33 for performing the same function and result. As in the preferred embodiment, the guide rails extend upwardly from the pocket 20 a distance greater than the height of any device 22 seated in the offset pocket 20 to isolate the device 22 from any I tool 18 moving through the well bore 16. Andthe tops 42 of the guide rails 40 extend upwardly and outwardly from the open bore 16 to present a deflecting surface guide means 26 extends upwardly far enough such that the top therof is shielded from the open bore 16 by the top of the mandrel 10, the top deflecting surfaces 32 and 42 may be omitted. That is, there will not be sufficient space between the top of the mandrel and the top of the guide means 26 whereby tools 18 of limited flexibility can enter and become caught.

typesof working tools, such as 18, through the well tub- 40 performed without the tools18 engaging the devices 22 Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment V causing damage to one orthe other or withoutthe tools 18 hanging on the device 22 or the sidepocket 20.

Since thedeflector guide means 26 extendsupwardly 1 "a distance greater than the distance that any device 22 seated in the sidepocket extends upwardly, the device 22 will be enclosed, protected and isolated from any tool 18 moving in the bore 16. Also, the tool 18 as it 18 are kept in the open bore 16 and prevented from en-v gaging any flow control devices 22 positioned in the offset pocket 20. And the deflector guide means 26 acts to positively guide the orientated flowcontrol de- M vices 22 into the sidepocket20 as they are installed.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention are given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction, and arrangement of parts, may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A well installation comprising,

a well tubing having a plurality of identical mandrels each having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and a pocket offset from the open bore for flow control devices,

a deflector guide means including a housing aligned with the pocket and extending outwardly a distance greater than the distance .any device seated in the pocket extends outwardly from the pocket,

said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size for admitting and guiding only pocket devices into the pocket and preventing the entrance of open bore tools into said pocket housing, and

the end of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly to the inside wall of the mandrel thereby presenting a deflecting surface which prevents tools in the open bore from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deflector housing includes,

a guide rail on each side of the axis of the offset pocket.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top of the deflector housing extends upwardly adjacent the top of the mandrel whereby the space therebetween is insufficient for entrance therein by an elongate tool.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deflector housing is U-shaped in cross section.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including,

an orientating sleeve in the open bore for aligning a flow control device into the housing and into the pocket,

said housing extending a sufficient length from the pocket to receive the flow control device when the flow control device is orientated into alignment with the pocket and thereafter guide the flow control device toward and into the pocket.

6. in a mandrel for use in a well tubing in which the mandrel body has an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and a pocket offset from the open bore for flow control devices, the improvement of a deflective guide means for protecting the devices in the pocket and preventing open bore tools moving in the bore from catching in the mandrel comprising,

a deflector housing aligned with the pocket and extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance any device seated in the pocket extends,

the top of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly from the open bore to the inside wall of the mandrel thereby presenting a deflecting surface which prevents tools in the open bore from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket,

said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size to admit only flow control pocket devices and preventing the entrance of open bore tools into said pocket housing,

an orientating sleeve in the open bore above the pocket for aligning a flow control device'into the housing and over the pocket,

said housing extending a sufficient length above the pocket to receive the flow control device when the flow control device is orientated over the pocket and thereafter guide the flow control device toward and into the pocket.

7. A well installation comprising,

a well tubing having a plurality of identical mandrels each having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and a pocket offset from the open bore for receiving flow control devices and including an orientation sleeve mounted in the open bore for coacting with a flow control handling apparatus,

each said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot angularly spaced from the axis of the offset pocket a predetermined amount,

a guide surface positioned below each said slot and directed upwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of said slot,

a shoulder positioned at the top of and entirely blocking the slot, for orientating a flow control handling device,

a deflector guide means including a housing aligned with the pocket and extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance any device seated in the pocket extends upwardly,

said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size for admitting only flow control devices into the pocket and preventing entrance of open bore tools into said pocket housing,

the top of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly to the inside wall of the mandrel thereby presenting a deflecting surface which prevents tools in the open bore from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket, and

said housing extending a sufficient length above the pocket to receive a flow control device when the flow control device is oriented over the pocket and thereafter guide the flow control device toward and into the pocket.

8. A mandrel for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel body having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing,

a valve pocket in said body offset from the open bore for receiving flow control devices,

an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore for orientating and releasing a flow control handling apparatus, each said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot angularly spaced from the axis of the offset valve pocket a predetermined amount,

a deflector guide means including a housing aligned with the pocket and extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance any flow control device seated in the pocket extends upwardly,

the top of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly toward the inside wall .of the mandrel for presenting a deflecting surface which prevents open bore tools from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket,

said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size for admitting only flow control devices into the pocket and preventing entrance of open bore well tools into said pocket housing, said housing extending a sufficient length above the pocket to receive a flow control device when the flow control device when the flow control device is oriented over the pocket whereby the housing guides the lower end of the flow control device toward and into the pocket as the flow control handling apparatus moves along the longitudinal slot.

=8 F i I t 

1. A well installation comprising, a well tubing having a plurality of identical mandrels each having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and a pocket offset from the open bore for flow control devices, a deflector guide means including a housing aligned with the pocket and extending outwardly a distance greater than the distance any device seated in the pocket extends outwardly from the pocket, said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size for admitting and guiding only pocket devices into the pocket and preventing the entrance of open bore tools into said pocket housing, and the end of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly to the inside wall of the mandrel thereby presenting a deflecting surface which prevents tools in the open bore from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deflector housing includes, a guide rail on each side of the axis of the offset pocket.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top of the deflector housing extends upwardly adjacent the top of the mandrel whereby the space therebetween is insufficient for entrance therein by an elongate tool.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deflector housing is U-shaped in cross section.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 including, an orientating sleeve in the open bore for aligning a flow control device into the housing and into the pocket, said housing extending a sufficient length from the pocket to receive the flow control device when the flow control device is orientated into alignment with the pocket and thereafter guide the flow control device toward and into the pocket.
 6. In a mandrel for use in a well tubing in which the mandrel body has an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and a pocket offset from the open bore for flow control devices, the improvement of a deflective guide means for protecting the devices in the pocket and preventing open bore tools moving in the bore from catching in the mandrel comprising, a deflector housing aligned with the pocket and extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance any device seated in the pocket extends, the top of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly from the open bore to the inside wall of the mandrel thereby presenting a deflecting surface which prevents tools in the open bore from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket, said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size to admit only flow control pocket devices and preventing the entrance of open bore tools into said pocket housing, an orientating sleeve in the open bore above the pocket for aligning a flow control device into the housing and over the pocket, said housing extending a sufficient length above the pocket to receive the flow control device when the flow control device is orientated over the pocket and thereafter guide the flow control device toward and into the pocket.
 7. A well installation comprising, a well tubing having a plurality of identical mandrels each having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing and a pocket offset from the open bore for receiving flow control devices and including an orientation sleeve mounted in the open bore for coacting with a flow control handling apparatus, each said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot angularly spaced from the axis of the offset pocket a predetermined amount, a guide surface positioned below each said slot and directed upwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of said slot, a shoulder positioned at the top of and entirely blocking the slot, for orientating a flow control handling device, a deflector guide means including a housing aligned with the pocket and extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance any device seated in the pocket extends upwardly, said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size for admitting only flow control devices into the pocket and preventing entrance of open bore tools into said pocket housing, the top of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly to the inside wall of the mandrel thereby presenting a deflecting surface which prevents tools in the open bore from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket, and said housing extending a sufficient length above the pocket to receive a flow control device when the flow control device is oriented over the pocket and thereafter guide the flow control device toward and into the pocket.
 8. A mandrel for use in a well tubing comprising, a mandrel body having an open bore for alignment with the well tubing, a valve pocket in said body offset from the open bore for receiving flow control devices, an orientation sleeve positioned in the open bore for orientating and releasing a flow control handling apparatus, each said sleeve including a longitudinally directed orientation slot angularly spaced from the axis of the offset valve pocket a predetermined amount, a deflector guide means including a housing aligned with the pocket and extending upwardly a distance greater than the distance any flow control device seated in the pocket extends upwardly, THE top of the housing extending from the open bore upwardly and radially outwardly toward the inside wall of the mandrel for presenting a deflecting surface which prevents open bore tools from catching on the housing or on any device in the pocket, said housing being open adjacent the open bore but of a size for admitting only flow control devices into the pocket and preventing entrance of open bore well tools into said pocket housing, said housing extending a sufficient length above the pocket to receive a flow control device when the flow control device when the flow control device is oriented over the pocket whereby the housing guides the lower end of the flow control device toward and into the pocket as the flow control handling apparatus moves along the longitudinal slot. 